Cubs help disabled boy get new set of wheels

Sue Kirby

A disabled boy is able to play racing cars with his brothers, thanks to a cub group.

Michael Mason, five, suffered severe brain damage and was left with cerebral palsy and a host of other problems after being starved of oxygen during his traumatic birth.

It was really lovely of them

Donna Mason

Now, members of the 1st Murton cubs, where his eight-year-old brother, Matthew, is a member, have donated £100 they raised to buy the boy a new set of remote control cars, which are specially adapted to his needs.

The boys’ mum, Donna Mason, who was also lucky to survive Michael’s birth when her caesarian scar from Matthew’s birth ruptured during a natural delivery, said she was really touched by the cubs’ gesture.

Donna, 33, who is married to Robert and is also mum to two-year-old Martin, said: “It was really lovely of them. We have had to fight for everything for him, even for a hoist to lift him.

“The cars are adapted to his needs which means he can play with his brothers, me and his dad, and we can do something together as a family.”

When Donna’s scar burst during Michael’s birth she was rushed to theatre and Robert was warned there was a high chance he would lose both his wife and child.

When it became clear that Michael had suffered brain damage and the machines were breathing for him, the family made the heartbreaking decision to turn the ventilator off and gathered to say their final goodbyes.

However, miraculously, Michael started to breathe on his own.

The Ribbon Academy youngster has severe special needs, he can’t walk or talk and is fed through a tube in his stomach.

He also has a tracheostomy tube to allow him to breathe.

Donna said Matthew has been a rock since Michael’s birth and even insisted hospital staff teach him how to clear the tube when it becomes blocked, so he can help care for his brother.

She said: “Matthew was four when Michael was born and he has always been amazing with him. I couldn’t fault him, in fact at the time I think it was him that kept us going.”

Karen Daniels, the Akela of the cubs, which meets in St Paul’s Methodist Church, said: “Matthew has told us that he wants his first badge to be the disability awareness one.”

The cubs raised the money by buying bracelets, made by street children in Peru to help build a school, and then selling them. Some of the cubs’ profits were also donated to the Glebe Centre’s cookery group, so they could buy the ingredients to make soup for elderly people from the village.